Reese Witherspoon Slams Renée Zellweger Face Transformation Critics As 'Cruel'

Renée Zellweger's "new" face is getting some serious Hollywood backup from none other then Reese Witherspoon.

The 38-year-old actress tells The Hollywood Reporter's 2014 Roundtable Issue that Zellweger's recent media scrutiny regarding her alleged altered face is "cruel and rude."

"It's horrible ... and I can go on and on and on. It bothers me immensely," Reese said of the critics. "I know this is so Pollyanna of me, but why — and it's particularly women — why do they have to tear women down? And why do we have to tear other women down to build another woman up? It drives me crazy. Like, this one looks great without her makeup but that one doesn't look good without her makeup, and it's all just a judgment and assault that I don't — look, men are prey to it as well. I just don't think it's with the same sort of ferocity."

On Oct. 20, the Bridget Jones's Diary star attended the Elle Women in Hollywood event looking seemingly different and stirring up questions about her new look.

Renee Zellweger is looking like herself again. https://t.co/6yS9b4vZ9H #ETnow pic.twitter.com/hLNr0LTf2d

— EntertainmentTonight (@etnow) October 28, 2014

"I'm glad folks think I look different. I'm living a different, happy, more fulfilling life, and I'm thrilled that perhaps it shows," the 45-year-old actress said. With Zellweger being mum about the idea that she has had plastic surgery, MStars News reported that Dr. Alex Karidis speculates that some plastic surgery was given. "Her forehead is smooth — you would expect more expressive wrinkles when she smiles, which indicates a possible small does of Botox between the eyelid and eye," he said. Check out the new The Hollywood Reporter cover:

This week's #THRcoverstory: the actress roundtable: 7 stars of awards season weigh in on nude photo hacks, Renee Zellweger's 'cruel' treatment, and how you really fix Hollywood's female role problem. Head to thr.com for the full story and video. Photo by Ruven Afanador @ruvenafanador @reesewitherspoon @_juliannemoore @iamamyadams #FelicityJones #LauraDern #HilarySwank #PatriciaArquette Styled by Carol McColgin @CarolMcColgin A photo posted by Hollywood Reporter (@hollywoodreporter) on Nov 11, 2014 at 11:02am PST